Andreas vs William
Andreas and William compared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Andreas was ranked #96 and William #3 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Andreas was ranked #687 and William #25 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Andreas was ranked #829 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Andreas and William over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Andreas and William over time
Andreas and William appear together in 3 published lists, across 129 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Andreas in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Andreas reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, William in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2008, William moved ahead of Andreas in Norway · Boys — #12 and #19 the year before became #9 and #8.
- Longest-running competitions
Andreas and William were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #687 and #25.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Andreas #222 in 1968, William #8 in 1966.
List by list
Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025
Andreas held the stronger position in 63 of those years, William in 18.
Highest recorded here: Andreas #1 in 1991, William #1 in 2012.
The order changed in 2008: William moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #12 and #19; by 2008 that had become #9 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andreas #96, William #3.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Andreas held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 30.
Highest recorded here: Andreas #358 in 1996, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andreas #687, William #25.
Republic of Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1966–2025
Andreas held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 18.
Highest recorded here: Andreas #222 in 1968, William #8 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andreas #829, William #73.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Andreas
Pairs where Andreas shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Andreas vs Aksel
Andreas and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #25.
Andreas · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Andreas vs Arne
Andreas and Arne were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #222.
Andreas · Arne · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Andreas vs Bjørn
Andreas and Bjørn were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #56.
Andreas · Bjørn · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Andreas vs Christian
Andreas and Christian were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #131.
Andreas · Christian · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other comparisons involving William
Pairs where William shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- William vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #26 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2023 they were #58 and #395.
William · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Brendan
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #73 and #402.
William · Brendan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Bradley
In 1996 they stood at #21 and #31 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #25 and #352.
William · Bradley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Andrew
In 1996 they stood at #21 and #29 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #25 and #334.
William · Andrew · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from Norway lists
Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Ingrid vs Wenche
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #22 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2008 they were #6 and #621.
Ingrid · Wenche · 58 shared years, 1945–2008 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Torill
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #39 in Norway · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2004 they were #10 and #599.
Anna · Torill · 55 shared years, 1945–2004 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ingrid vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2006 they were #6 and #583.
Ingrid · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2006 they were #10 and #583.
Anna · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Andreas | William |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'will helmet', combining the ideas of desire/will and protection. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈwɪljəm/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | England and Wales, Republic of Ireland, Norway | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #96 (2025) | Norway · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- William has a recorded origin (Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm)); Andreas does not have one recorded yet.
- Andreas and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Andreas doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Andreas
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #140 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1991 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #687 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
William
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #277 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #25 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys